The National tribune., 1887-08-11
A LITTLE PLAIN TALK.
Private Dalucll Makes a Few Pointed Inquiries.


EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: As one of the
very least OF all the poor men who walked in
the ranks and carried a muskct, rise to make
few pointed inquiries at this late day, in the
hope that IL may bring out few explanations
very much desired in the great Grand Army
paper which you publish.
i have noticed, not recently, but for years,
that at our Grand Army meetings. Reunions,
Camphres and other patriotic occasions Of a
more miscellaneous character, that the lower
grade OF officers from, say, Captains on down.
like the private soldiers, wear the regulation
Grand Army blue suits generally. Indeed.
wherever i have been, the Ouly exceptions
have found 10 this are the boys who are too
poor 10 buy the uniform. This is a fact too
much disguised, that we have thousands Of
men IN the GAR. who are too poor TO afford
even this cheap display on public days, and do
not turn Out because their suits are secdy,
ragged, and not blue.
This has not been said SO publicly before but
as poverty is no disgrace, still SO blank I'M
handy" permit me through your excellent
organ oil the Order 10 inquire IL anyone can
suggest remedy for this evil The proper
remedy. and one fully adequate 10 meet the
case entirely, in my humble opinion, would be
an act OF Congress providing a regulation uni
form for every man Ia the GAR too poor TO
buy one. IL would take 100000 suits a year for
three. $1,000 for the next iOar years, and posi-
bly, 10000 for the next three years, aud so on
down until 1890, when one or two at the most
would be quite enough 10 20 around ali then
left This impedimcnt, never before named so
publicly, but which is understood by Us all,
keeps thousands Of men out Of the GAR
We love the army blue, and we of the rank and
lie who eau AFFORD IL, always have IL on when
we 90 out on great patriotic occasions. At
least that is how il looks 10 me where have
been. What say the other boys 10 this2 lt Is
possible attn wrong. Am IL
But the Generals, Judges, Congressman, Scna-
tors aud other public iunctionaries. together
with bankers, miiliOnaires aud other aristo-
cratic gentlemen generally, who are members
OF the G.A.R and who lead out on all displays,
aud are always the only delegates 10 our En-
campments-iet the truth be spoken plainly
would ~ lief put on the penitentiary stripes
a. cheap aud nasty suit Of blue good
enough FOR private" AS solomon would
have said IL he had worn the blue
" This also is vanity" Catch one OF those
hne gents wearing an S. suit OF army blue
Not much. They dress 10 Geath la Prince
Albert in fine black NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
gray,-Heagen save the mark and the
only sign OF their GAR connections about
their clothes Is q little bit Of button not big
ger than the end Of your little finger. Notice
II, and see how many Of these bigbugs you ever
see ID uniform ia the cars, hotels or public
places. III they could mount their suits with
brass straps 70 distinguish them from the com.
mon herd oI vulgar priyates, they would all
wear blue
That's what's the matter! A LADY friend of
mine, at our great Reunion on the Western Re-
serve the other day noticing and commenting
on this most notorious TACT, said to me: Mr.
DLizell, why do you persist in wearing that
vulgar biuef Gentlemen would not be seen ia
iti" She was right. BUT will wear il all the
same while j live, and be buried in an g. suit
when die. IL am worth a million or 20 out of
life panpcr. And thai is not the half Of H.
VIII agitate this question until these proud
gentlemen, who are old, respected comrades of
mine, quit their foolish pride Of dress aud step
down TO Grand Army equality with the
rest, by dOnnlng the common blue They must
aud shall do h. or a. least explain 20 their COM
rados of the rank and file what there is about
the blue OF which they are ashamed. We are
all equal IN the GAR. IL read its Consti-
tuition right, aud on public occasions should
not be too proud 20 wear is humble uniform.
the only badge of equality the public will rec.
ognize aud accept. Because some men get
drunk IN the blue and act the BLACKBOARD, aud
because most Of those who wear the blue are
poor a. Christ, iors00th, arc poor reasons for
these lords Of creation Haunting their superi-
ority by disdonning and refusing 20 wear the
blne.-PEiNATE DALZELIa Caldwell, o., June
IA.
81 know the answer OF confession and
avoidance that some will make. They will
cite Que or two great public occasions where
even the greatest soldiers ia the Order wore the
blue ~ public for an hour or so. and then
quickly shook il %. ashamed 10 be- seen IN tie
uniform Of the private. Once or twice have
seen this, but mighty seldom. I can give
names. dates and occasions by the thousand.
and vii 90 % II desired, bur prefer 10 probe
the eva 10 the core, and cure IL, without giving
needless pain 10 the paiientl ! write In great
kindness and sorrow, for the facts OF which /
complain long since taught the people pener-
ally 20 regard the boys IN blue as a low, vulgar
set latte less than lcpens